Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo worldwide, has warned against illegal amendment of its constitution.
The group cautioned that the unlawful amendments are solely aimed at scuttling the emergence of a President-General of Ohanaeze from Rivers State in January 2025.
A statement issued on Tuesday by its Secretary-general, Mazi Okechukwu lsiguzoro, said the plan was for the 2027 general elections and to also extend the tenure of some deviant elements within the organization.
Ohanaeze stated that the processes to initiate the move are in direct violation of Article 11(a) of the constitution of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, which stipulates the rotational office of the President-General among the seven Igbo-speaking states.
The organisation explained that Officially, the six other states have already taken their turn, and it is Rivers State’s rightful tenure to assume the office by January 11th, 2025.
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According to the statement, the proponents behind these unconstitutional amendments and the coup against Rivers State also contradict Articles 29 and 30 of Ohanaeze Ndigbo’s Constitution.
It warned the perpetrators that their efforts to amend the constitution illegally would be strongly resisted, nothing that the ill-fated actions would ultimately end up in futility and disgrace.
“The Igbo people aspire to witness the historical emergence of a President General from Rivers State since the end of the war in 1970. Any attempt to obstruct this will only exacerbate the ongoing Igbo identity crisis and hinder the process of reorientation and rediscovery of the Igbo people of Rivers State.
“Ohanaeze Ndigbo emphasizes that no conspiracy theories or constitutional amendments will be able to thwart the collective will of the Igbo people. To prevent these desperate perpetrators from achieving their aims, the South-east Governors, College of Igbo Bishops, Global Igbo leaders, non-state actors, Ndigbo in the diaspora, and Igbo Elders must join forces to halt their actions.
The statement called on Ohanaeze Elders Council, led by Prince Richard Ozobu, to approve the Rivers State President General aspirants to start consultations across the seven Igbo-speaking states and commence visible campaigns ahead of the 2025 elections.
